HSC Extension 1 English Research Project:Exploring the Socio-economic and Political Paradigms of the Romantic Movement The Industrial Revolution:
1700’s
Britain is perfectly poised to be the industrial pioneer. The empire had a natural abundance of raw materials like water, iron and coal, as well as available capital thanks to low interest rates and an increasingly wealthy bourgeoisie, keen to invest in new technology. Britain had a large, expanding market for consuming and a strong merchant navy for trading manufactured goods.
1709
Abraham Darby’s use of coke (processed coal), rather than charcoal, reduces the cost of iron-making.
1712
Thomas Newcomen’s invention and James Watt’s improvement and popularisation of the steam engine dramatically improves productivity by powering machinery in factories and mills, pumping mines and driving steamships and trains.
1771
Richard Arkwright invents the first water-powered mill in Devonshire, England.
1786
Scottish philanthropist and cotton mill owner David Dale builds the first ‘model town’—an urban centre designed to enhance the lives of factory employees by incorporating ‘green lungs’, city parks included to improve the health problems caused by cramped city slum conditions.
1802
First Factory Act legislated in Britain, imposing modest regulations about working conditions. Hours for men, women and children still appallingly high; pay appallingly low.
1813
‘Luddites’, protesters against these terrible conditions who engaged in industrial action such as striking and destroying machinery, formally tried in Britain. Over 50 people sentenced to death or penal transportation to Australia.
1820
Belgium becomes the first continental European nation to industrialise.
1837
Term ‘Industrial Revolution’ coined by Louis-Auguste Blanqui to describe change in Britain over the last fifty years.
1840-70
Sophisticated railway networks are completed in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the United States, enabling raw materials for manufacturing, products and commuters to travel to and from cities and heralding the ‘Second Industrial Revolution’. First ‘Metro’ station opens in London on January 10th 1863.
1850
At this stage, Britain owns half the world’s ships with its strong merchant navy for trading products and materials, contains half the world’s railways and produces half of Europe’s horsepower (just less than that of America).
1851
The British census revealed that a child born in the small market town of Okehampton could expect to live to 57; a child born in inner Liverpool, just 26.
1855
Henry Bessemer applies for a patent for his ‘Bessemer Converter’, a steel-making machine and process that drastically improved the strength and versatility of iron, providing the ideal product for the construction of railway lines, ships and especially armaments in the beginning of the arms race.
1885
American architect William Le Baron Jenney designs and constructs the first skyscraper, 10 storeys tall and built in Chicago, USA.
1889
The tallest structure in the world for 41 years, Gustave Eiffel’s Tower was built as a symbol of French industrialisation, much to the distaste of many Parisians who thought it an awful eyesore and reflective of the oppression of the working class by factory and business owners.
1890’s
Russia and Sweden jump on the industrialisation bandwagon.
1895
Huge acceleration of industrialisation in France, previously impended by the French Revolution.
1900-14
Industrialisation sweeps Japan, Italy, Spain, Hungary and Austria (Habsburg Empire).
1914
With the outbreak of WW1 European markets are narrowed and the focus of national investment is monopolised by arms manufacturing.
The Industrial Revolution was called a revolution because it fundamentally and irreversibly changed work, business, trade, life and livelihood in Europe and the United States. Established European life, predominantly serfdom, was challenged as people abandoned rural towns and flocked to newly expanding cities in search of work. Those who remained in the country were desperately poor, only able to work seasonally and providing for a miniscule market. Those in the city, however, had to adopt a totally new lifestyle in the increasingly cramped cities including working horrendous hours (fifteen a day for children) in dangerous conditions for despicable pay. These issues only began to be addressed in Britain when ‘The Great Stink’ hit its peak in 1858 when the smell from the Thames River, that ran with raw sewage, became so overpowering that the curtains of the offices of politicians were soaked in lime chloride in a vain attempt to mask the stench. However, the dramatic increases in productivity enabled countries to develop thriving economies and offered many labour saving technologies for middle and upper class families as well as improving healthcare, transportation, public infrastructure and providing employment. Eventually, countries with affluent economies and families with households that demanded less labour meant education was more available to children than ever before.
Industrialisation also represented a challenge to traditional religious practice and affiliation. The city afforded people far greater anonymity than the city, and the ‘leisure industry’ began to emerge with bars, brothels and casinos dominating consumer spending. It was in the cities, too, that alternates to Christianity could be voiced without fear of condemnation of an entire country town. In Britain, the first 1250 copies printed of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species sold out before release, indicating an interest in alternate theories that of the Church among some Victorians who were beginning to question the validity, motives and necessity of religious institutions. For the first time, Victorian society saw the promotion of secularism and a shift in the relationship between science and the Church.
Scarlett Franks The Industrial revolution- By Synthura Sandrasegaran
1708 - The invention of the mechanical seed sewer
In 1708 Jethro Tull invented the mechanical seed sewer. This had a huge impact on agriculture as the process of growing crops was quickened and more crops could be sewn hence the farmers were able to produce huge quantities of produce with less manual labor.
1712- Steam power
In 1712, Thomas Newcomen invented the first practical steam power plant. These steam engines were first used to dig deeper mines, creating a huge expansion in the coal mining industry. Within two decades, his engines were used all over Europe. In 1770, John Smeaton improved on Newcomen’s design. In 1778, the steam engine was finally perfected by James Watt and Matthew Boulton.
1755 - Iron making
Abraham Darby II invented an economically practical way of producing cast iron which had a huge impact on the industrial revolution as it allowed for factory machinery and transport (steam trains) to be cheaper to construct hence these industries were able to grow. In 1855 Henry Bessemer invented the Bessemer converter which was the first machine to produce mass quantities of steel that was cheaper and faster to produce which further allowed industries to expand.
1769 - Textiles
Textiles which were previously produced manually, were now able to be mass produced thanks to a number of inventions which allowed for this industrial breakthrough. In 1769 Richard Arkwright invented the water frame which used water powered machinery to spin raw cotton and produce yarns in large quantities which was cheaper.
1831-research leading to generating of electricity
In 1831, Michael Faraday demonstrated induction which was the basic principle which triggered the mechanical generating of electricity which changed the way humans have lived ever since.
1859- trans Atlantic cable laid
In 1859, the trans-Atlantic cable was laid by Cyrus West Field, Sir James Anderson and Isambard Kingdom Brunel connecting West Europe to America.
1879 - Light bulb
In 1879, Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb. People no longer relied on candles for light.
1886 – unveiling of the Statue of Liberty
In 1886, the statue of liberty was unveiled in New York. Not only was it a gift and memorial of independence it was a symbol marking human history entering into modern times. Its size represents the power that humans had obtained though science and technology during the industrial revolution.
Reflection statement
The industrial revolution de-established the processes and traditions of the time as it presented a whole new way of living as well as a new outlook on the world. The invention of the light bulb, seed sewing machines, steam power and economically viable cast iron changed the way we begun accessing basic necessities, such as light, food and clothing. These were once produced at home or in small scales, the women made the clothes for the family, candles lit the house, farmers endured manual labor in order to produce crops. Women no longer needed to produce clothing from scratch hence they had more time to do other household chores. Farmers no longer needed to do as much manual labor hence fewer workers were needed. The production of electricity and the invention of machines lowered the amount of workers needed in factories (causing unemployment, workers had to turn to other types of work). Most produce was now produced in large amounts which allowed for the economy to grow. All of these inventions in some way lowered the amount of domestic labour women had to perform; this was the trigger for women becoming part of the work force. They begun taking up jobs such as secretaries, their presence in the office grew; this was opposed to the tradition that women stayed home and looked after the family. New breakthroughs in science such as Darwin’s theory on evolution changed the way humans viewed the world. The trans-Atlantic cable allowed for continents separated by thousands of miles to seem just minutes away. One could say that most aspects of life quickened in pace.
The Industrial Revolution:
Industrialisation also represented a challenge to traditional religious practice and affiliation. The city afforded people far greater anonymity than the city, and the ‘leisure industry’ began to emerge with bars, brothels and casinos dominating consumer spending. It was in the cities, too, that alternates to Christianity could be voiced without fear of condemnation of an entire country town. In Britain, the first 1250 copies printed of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species sold out before release, indicating an interest in alternate theories that of the Church among some Victorians who were beginning to question the validity, motives and necessity of religious institutions. For the first time, Victorian society saw the promotion of secularism and a shift in the relationship between science and the Church.
Scarlett Franks
The Industrial revolution- By Synthura Sandrasegaran
- 1708 - The invention of the mechanical seed sewer
In 1708 Jethro Tull invented the mechanical seed sewer. This had a huge impact on agriculture as the process of growing crops was quickened and more crops could be sewn hence the farmers were able to produce huge quantities of produce with less manual labor.- 1712- Steam power
In 1712, Thomas Newcomen invented the first practical steam power plant. These steam engines were first used to dig deeper mines, creating a huge expansion in the coal mining industry. Within two decades, his engines were used all over Europe. In 1770, John Smeaton improved on Newcomen’s design. In 1778, the steam engine was finally perfected by James Watt and Matthew Boulton.- 1755 - Iron making
Abraham Darby II invented an economically practical way of producing cast iron which had a huge impact on the industrial revolution as it allowed for factory machinery and transport (steam trains) to be cheaper to construct hence these industries were able to grow. In 1855 Henry Bessemer invented the Bessemer converter which was the first machine to produce mass quantities of steel that was cheaper and faster to produce which further allowed industries to expand.- 1769 - Textiles
Textiles which were previously produced manually, were now able to be mass produced thanks to a number of inventions which allowed for this industrial breakthrough. In 1769 Richard Arkwright invented the water frame which used water powered machinery to spin raw cotton and produce yarns in large quantities which was cheaper.- 1831-research leading to generating of electricity
In 1831, Michael Faraday demonstrated induction which was the basic principle which triggered the mechanical generating of electricity which changed the way humans have lived ever since.- 1859- trans Atlantic cable laid
In 1859, the trans-Atlantic cable was laid by Cyrus West Field, Sir James Anderson and Isambard Kingdom Brunel connecting West Europe to America.- 1879 - Light bulb
In 1879, Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb. People no longer relied on candles for light.- 1886 – unveiling of the Statue of Liberty
In 1886, the statue of liberty was unveiled in New York. Not only was it a gift and memorial of independence it was a symbol marking human history entering into modern times. Its size represents the power that humans had obtained though science and technology during the industrial revolution.Reflection statement
The industrial revolution de-established the processes and traditions of the time as it presented a whole new way of living as well as a new outlook on the world. The invention of the light bulb, seed sewing machines, steam power and economically viable cast iron changed the way we begun accessing basic necessities, such as light, food and clothing. These were once produced at home or in small scales, the women made the clothes for the family, candles lit the house, farmers endured manual labor in order to produce crops. Women no longer needed to produce clothing from scratch hence they had more time to do other household chores. Farmers no longer needed to do as much manual labor hence fewer workers were needed. The production of electricity and the invention of machines lowered the amount of workers needed in factories (causing unemployment, workers had to turn to other types of work). Most produce was now produced in large amounts which allowed for the economy to grow. All of these inventions in some way lowered the amount of domestic labour women had to perform; this was the trigger for women becoming part of the work force. They begun taking up jobs such as secretaries, their presence in the office grew; this was opposed to the tradition that women stayed home and looked after the family. New breakthroughs in science such as Darwin’s theory on evolution changed the way humans viewed the world. The trans-Atlantic cable allowed for continents separated by thousands of miles to seem just minutes away. One could say that most aspects of life quickened in pace.